Into the Great Wide Open
Part One

Good evening, London. It's half past ten o'clock and you're listening to BBC Radio 4. We'll be returning to our interview with Betsy Braddock of the Pendragons in just a moment...The people of London are advised that the Brixton and Streatham areas are closed off tomorrow, as the recent violence in the werewolf community continues to leave the populace on edge. Additional police forces have been called in from outlying areas and Mayor Ken Livingstone has issued a statement assuring the citizenry that the uprisings are close to being put down.... Police raided twelve homes in the Birmingham area early this morning, uncovering what is believed to be a major terrorist ring, headed up by the controversial centaur H'mpak. H'mpak's recent statements against what he has described as the 'British tradition of pillaging the environment' have put him on the continental map, but police now say that he's linked to an alleged plot to blow up several commercial sites around the country.... Fears continue to mount about the large numbers of superhuman criminals freed during the recent assault on Darkmoor Prison. Authorities claim that over three dozen are back in custody but the worst of the lot are still on the loose....The weather will be fine tomorrow until 1:30 P.M. The National Mages for Weather Control Council has issued a planned shower alert, one that will last until 4:00 P.M. The National Mages assure everyone that the rainfall will be strictly regulated this time, unlike the flash flooding that ensued during last week's planned rainfall... Have a pleasant evening.

"So... there's been a lot of talk lately about your desire to have the Barrier brought down... and I have to ask you: Why in the name of God's green earth would you want to do that?" He laughed a bit as he said this, like it was nothing more than aside between friends. Thousands, if not millions, were tuned in to the conversation, however, for it had been heavily publicized all week.

Betsy sat back in her chair, her fingers closing around the glass in front of her. She wasn't in uniform tonight, having left the Captain Britain attire back on Lyonesse. In place of her fighting garb she wore a knee length skirt, leather boots and a turtle neck sweater. The outfit looked good on her, but then most things did. As a former model, she'd learned how to carry herself in such a way that even the most casual clothing looked like something she could wear on the catwalk. "Well, Brent, to be honest... When I was fighting that crazed version of Dark Angel...."

"It must be odd having the real one back on the squad now, isn't it?" the interviewer interrupted. He was a charming enough fellow, though a bit on the heavy side and a bit overly-freckled on the face. "I mean, one day a version of her's trying to kill you and the next you're having a spot of tea with her?"

"In our business you get used to evil twins and such," Betsy laughed. She could see Gray watching her from the other side of the room, smiling. He wasn't on the air like she was, a decision that he'd made on the way to the station. He felt very strongly that Betsy could sell this idea without him. She wasn't too sure about that, but she'd given in to his obvious desire to stay in the background. 

"I can't fathom the life you must lead," he answered. "So. Back to the Barrier business."

"Like I was saying, I had a vision. I saw the Barrier coming down, thanks to a spell cast by the Pendragons. I knew we'd need a series of discs -- wards -- that Blackheart had used and we've been busy tracking those down. I think we're ready to do it soon."

"But you still haven't said why you think it would be a good idea. If you'll pardon me for being blunt, there's a war out there. Martian tripods have lain waste to most of North America, from what I understand. Your teammate Dark Angel has painted a bleak picture of things, even with some of the recent victories they've had. Why would you want to expose Britain to that? Or the rest of Europe, for that matter? Aren't we safer behind this Barrier?"

Betsy paused before answering. These questions had plagued her ever since she'd awakened from her coma... she only hoped her answers would be persuasive. "Do you really want to sit behind a wall while the rest of humanity is butchered? Can you really look yourself in the mirror, knowing that maybe we could have made a difference in saving our planet? What if the Barrier comes down naturally twenty years from now and the Martians own the rest of the Earth? Won't our task be that much harder then? We're not just British... We're human beings. And our planet is under siege. Now, perhaps others would like to lie in their beds at night, safe and secure, while others die for their safety... but I'm not one of them. I consider that line of thinking to be the height of cowardice and it's unbecoming our national identity."

"But... what's to say that we won't be overrun by these Martians?"

"I've been in contact with heroes on the other side and we're prepared to act in concert with them. Our conversations have been magically secured, meaning that the Martians will be completely unprepared for what's about to happen. We took them by surprise when we destroyed their mothership* and we can twice that damage now that we know what we're up against."

(*See the "Unity" storyline that ran in issues 55-59)

The man tapped his finger on the desk, looking pensive. "But is it fair for you to make this decision for all of us? I sympathize with your points, mind you, but your group is less than a dozen at present... and you're going to force all of us into a war that you believe in. You might call us cowards, but what about those of us who don't want to take part in this?"

"There will be peace in our time, someone once said. They sought to avoid doing what was right and just then, too. They thought you could parlay with the devil and not get burned. We all know how that turned out."

"But you're not an elected official. You have no right to speak for all of us!"

Betsy felt her temper flare but held it in check. She believed passionately in what she was doing and it angered her to see others willing to throw their fellow humans to the wolves in exchange for temporary salvation. "The Prime Minister voiced many of these same concerns*. He's called an emergency session Parliament that will convene in three days, to discuss this very matter. We're trying to include everyone in this decision."

(*See issue 77)

"And you'll abide by the majority decision if Parliament decides they don't want the Barrier brought down?"

"I... We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

One Hour Later - Lyonesse

The castle was quiet and still when they entered, with most of the team in bed. Betsy was glad they hadn’t stayed up to welcome her and Gray back home. She didn’t think she could bear facing them at the moment. “I botched it. There’s no two ways about it.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself,” he replied, taking her by the hand as they ascended the stairs to their bedroom. “I’ve done plenty of interviews in the past and been on both sides of the microphone. You gave honest, well thought-out answers.”

“They’re going to crucify us for implying we’re going to do what’s best, regardless of what Parliament decides.”

“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?”

Betsy frowned, tossing her purple-tinted hair out of her face. “You know it is.”

“Maybe if you told the rest of the world exactly what you saw….”

“We should want this because it’s the right thing to do.”

“You told me you had a vision of what life would be like for us if the Barrier stayed in place.”

“And it wasn’t pretty, yes.” Betsy looked into her lover’s eyes, searching in them for any sign of doubt. She saw none, which made her feel much more secure. Through their psychic bond, she projected her love for him and she saw his smile in response. “But I don’t want to scare people into this. I want them to stand up and fight against their oppressors.”

“But what happens to the supernaturals that live amongst us now? How will they be affected?”

“Wynter believes the ambient magic will weaken over time but he thinks Europe has been fundamentally altered, especially Britain . We were at the epicenter of Blackheart’s scheme, after all. They’ll survive, even if they might not flourish like they’re doing now.”

“I’ll help you do this, Betsy. And so will everyone on the team, even the ones who think we’re nuts to rush into a war.”

Betsy tilted her head as his hand came to rest on her cheek. She kissed his palm. “All of you have way too much faith in me. I don’t deserve it.”

“Bollocks. You’re a gem and you know it. The only big question I still have is: should we get married before or after the Barrier comes down?”

Killraven sat lotus-style on the beach, the wind blowing his hair so that it streamed behind him. He inhaled deeply, loving how rich and pure the air seemed to be. This time was almost a paradise compared to the one he’d left behind…

Guilt poured into his soul as he thought of his fellow Freemen, left behind. He should be with them, should be leading them into battle and eventual victory. He should—

“You worry far too much, Jonathan Raven.”

Killraven was on his feet in a blur, unsheathing the sword that he kept at his waist. Floating in the air before him was a woman dressed in the purple and green garb made infamous by the man known as Kang the Conqueror. This woman, called Lady Kang at times, had convinced Killraven to come into the past… and then abandoned him. “I thought you were gone forever!” he hissed.

“That would not suit our goals at all,” she replied. Her eyes, the only visible part of her face aside from her mouth, betrayed no concern at all over his weapon being drawn. “I have been confirming my suspicions. The time for you to act is coming very soon.”

“Act? When will you tell me exactly what it is that I am to do?”

“Your enemy, the High Overlord of the Martian forces… he has journeyed back in time. He has been under the Barrier for months and the magic here is affecting his already fragile mental state. He will soon try to strike you down and his mere presence here has already weakened the timestream, which has barely healed*.”

(*From the events of Pendragons 75)

“He’s here?” Killraven lowered his blade, fear causing his heart to hammer in his chest. The Overlord was a powerful, crafty foe… There was no telling what damage he could wreak with knowledge from the future. “Where is he?”

Lady Kang glanced towards the castle, her eyes narrowing. “The Pendragons won’t trust me, no matter what I say.”

“That’s because you tried to destroy all creation and replace it with one of your own,” Killraven replied, watching her closely. “They’ve told me all about you.”

“My beloved husband taught me that one has to do what is necessary if one wishes to achieve greater power. I’ve done many terrible things in the pursuit of what is best for all. You shouldn’t judge until you’ve truly seen what I’ve overcome.”

“Where is he?” Killraven repeated, not wanting to lose track of what truly mattered.

“He lurks within the old headquarters of the Pendragons, behind the face of Big Ben. You will find him there.”

“What do you gain from all this?” Killraven asked. “By your own admission, you crave power… How will this benefit you?”

“With the damage done to the timestream as of late, some realities are in danger of collapse. Should the High Overlord make a significant alteration to this timeline, this one could be lost. And that must not happen. It has a singular importance. If you slay him here and now, you will succeed on multiple levels. He will be absent from your own time, caught in a time loop that results in his death… and this world will move forward as it should, without influence from the future.”

Killraven stared at her, unblinking. She had not answered his question.

“Very well,” she said with a sigh. “There are some who believe this may be the Prime Timeline, the one from which all others sprang. Even if it is not, it must be very close… and thus might be traced backwards to the point from which it split from the original. To lose this one would be to forfeit years of research that Kang worked on. I won’t allow that to happen.”

There was a note in her voice every time she mentioned Kang and Killraven felt oddly certain that she was not lying about her reasons for wanting this timeline secured. There might be more to her tale, to be sure, but nothing she had said was an outright fabrication. He sheathed his blade and nodded. “I’ll slay him. I can promise you that.”

Lady Kang visibly relaxed. “I have faith in you. Do not go tonight. Tomorrow.”

Killraven started to ask her about this, but she faded away before he could do so. The reason for her abrupt departure became clear when he noticed that Shevaun had stepped out onto the balcony outside her room. She wore a t-shirt and boxers, her tattoos and piercings visible even from afar. She was a stunningly attractive woman, with a keen intellect and varied interests. Killraven had to admit to himself that he desired her and he sensed she admired him, as well. He thought of not telling her, of going forth to face his oldest enemy alone, but he quickly passed on it. She had been a good friend and a strong ally.

Resolved to share this news with Shevaun and the Pendragons, he set forth towards her room.

Paris , Early the Next Morning

Dark Angel stood in the back of the room, close to Killraven. He was anxious, eager to find this Martian commander and slay him. Shevaun couldn’t blame him, not after hearing the list of atrocities that the alien had committed, but Captain Britain had made it clear that they would all go after the Martian… and that it would have to wait until after their business in Paris.

Shevaun glanced around, seeing that the entire Pendragons group had made it… with one exception. Lorna Dane, Polaris, was missing. It wasn’t like her and her absence was a source of concern for everyone in the group. It was especially odd for her to be gone considering what was about to take place. Of all the Pendragons, she had forged the closest friendship to Dan Ketch.

“I’m going to miss you guys,” Dan was saying, drawing Shevaun’s attention.

“Same to you,” Nocturne answered. “It’s nice of you to volunteer to help out the expansion team, though.”

Dan nodded, looking back at the rest of Pendragons Paris. The decision to open branch headquarters throughout Europe had been Spitfire’s idea, but it hadn’t gotten much further than the selection of bases until now. Scattered throughout Europe would be small bases manned by squads of 3-4 Pendragons or associates, each of whom could call upon the larger group if needed. In Paris , the initial roster would be Ghost Rider and Le Peregrine (having been convinced to leave behind his old group, the Commonwealth), along with a pair of novice heroes: a French woman codenamed Sibilla and a Brit who had adopted the mantle of Iron Man*.

(*First seen in the Pendragon Universe’s Hulk series)

“Well, with Stacy dead, I just felt like I needed something different.”

“You certainly got that,” Union Jack murmured, drawing a warning glare from his wife, Spitfire. Joey ignored it, as he was increasingly used to such things, and instead focused his attention on Sibilla. The woman was a mystic, cloaked in dark purple and black. Her long dark hair was piled high atop her head and she looked like her mind was a thousand miles away. Lowering his voice so that only Spitfire would hear, Joey asked, “A loose cannon like Ghost Rider, two rookies and bloody Peregrine. What a group.”

“They’ll do fine,” Spitfire replied. Joey held his tongue at that point, knowing how important this was to her. Her tenure as leader had included the deaths of several team members and she generally regarded it as a total failure, despite some of the events not being her fault. The success of the branch idea would salvage something of her pride.

“The four of you will operate autonomously but we’ll expect you to file full reports on your activities and we’ll share all of our case files with you, as well.” Captain Britain addressed most of her comments to Peregrine, who had been elected acting leader.

The winged hero smiled broadly, affording Betsy a wink. “I will share anything with you that you desire. You have only to say the word.”

“The word is fiancé,” Nocturne muttered. The comment made Betsy grin and Peregrine flinch.

Moving on, Betsy said, “We need to return to London on business. Call us if you need anything.”

The new Iron Man nodded stiffly, obviously taking the whole affair very seriously. Betsy liked that.

Dark Angel stepped forward, ready to transport the team to their next location. “Everyone needs to stand as close to me as possible. And be prepared for anything. Killraven says he’s capable of taking us all on at once.”

Captain Britain activated the psychic link between them all, one that was augmented by Shevaun and Killraven’s own mental abilities. Remember the weaknesses Killraven told us about… and be alert for a trap. We can’t trust Lady Kang.

Before Killraven could respond, the group was caught up in Dark Angel’s teleportation spell. They passed through time and space, materializing at that exact moment in the halls of the Golden Age group’s headquarters.

There was no one about, though signs of recent habitation were everywhere.

“Think she tipped them off?” Union Jack asked, drawing his pistol.

“No clue, but I’m not picking up any psychic activity.” Captain Britain moved through the headquarters, the weight of history on her shoulders. She glanced over and saw that Spitfire was even more moved. She’d been a part of the old group, which had set the standard for all who followed. “Shevaun,” she said, “Can you help us out?”

Dark Angel knelt, running a hand over the surface of the floor. She called upon the powers available to her, ones that bridged the gap between science and magic. Ghostly images appeared in the room, signs of beings that were no longer present. The High Overlord, garbed in his silver armor, was speaking to someone that the Pendragons, especially Captain Britain , knew quite well.

“What in the world’s going on here?” Betsy whispered, not even feeling Nocturne’s calming hand on her arm. There, in the images before them, was her worst enemy, Zhang Xiaomei… the Lady Mandarin. Her armor, the same that Betsy had once worn as an agent of the Mandarin, seemed to taunt Betsy. “Can you tell what they’re saying?”

“No. The images are too cold. But it can’t be good.”

“Who is she?” Killraven asked.

“A very dangerous woman. A follower of the Bane.” Betsy hissed out every word. “And the leader of the Pendragons’ opposite numbers, the Emissaries of the Dark*!”

(*Encountered first in Pendragons # 11 and most recently in issue 63)

Avalon's green grasses looked impossibly lovely. The still waters of the Lake were tranquil enough to soothe even Lorna Dane's troubled spirit. "Please. I know I let you down... but I need your help."

The waters stirred, ever so gently, parting as a figure rose from the depths. He was a Pendragon like her, but one whose spirit had been battered and bruised over the years. Now he occupied a seat of high power, though not necessarily of high honor any longer.

"Hello, Lorna. What can I do for you?"

Polaris knelt, lowering her head. Before her was Dane Whitman, the Black Knight. The Lord of the Lake.

TO BE CONTINUED

Next Issue: The High Overlord united with the Emissaries? That can't be good. Evil gets an upgrade as our storyline continues, while Polaris comes face to face with... her father?

AUTHOR'S NOTES

The opening radio blurb is an homage to V for Vendetta, if anyone cares. 

The scene with Betsy on the radio is one that's in response to several letters I've received about whether or not it's right for Betsy to seek the Barrier's removal. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that she's out of her mind... and that's good. I want people to think and to argue. She's taking a difficult stance here, forcing Europe into a war that she thinks is moral and just... but that some people just don't want. Who's right and who's wrong? We'll get a better view of it all soon, I think. And yes, at some point, you'll see the entire vision that Betsy saw... for good or ill.

We've got a letter from Bob Gansler this month:

As usual, it's another enjoyable issue, but bittersweet in that it gets us closer to the end of the series. It was great to see Shevaun alongside the team once again.

It looks like the Pendragons will be seeing a lot of familiar albeit unfriendly faces once again before everything wraps up.

Thanks, Bob. You're right on the money concerning the familiar faces bit. Even though we've brought in some new foes (Clive Winthrop and the High Overlord), we still have to see the old favorites at least once more before the series ends, right?

You can reach me at aric_dacia@yahoo.com

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